Jerry Hagstrom/The Hagstrom Report
As the Washington Post reported today that Michelle Obama is considering wading into more contentious issues in President Barack Obama’s second term, the first lady hosted the annual White House Easter Egg Roll with a theme of “Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You,” and urged children to eat their vegetables and get exercise.

“The Easter Egg Roll is the biggest event that we have here on the South Lawn of the White House each year,” the first lady said from the balcony of the White House after being introduced by her husband as “the star of the Obama family.”

“Today we’re going to have more than 30,000 people who will pass through this yard in celebration of nutrition and health and activity,” the first lady continued.

“We want you to have a great time. We want you to run around. We want you to go over and see the White House garden. We want you to learn about making tasty, healthy food. We’re going to come down and do some Easter egg roll. We’re going to read some stories,” she said.

“But overall, we want you guys to have a good time and keep moving and be healthy. And, kids, eat your vegetables, OK?”

After helping a group of small children roll eggs, the president and the first lady and their daughters Sasha and Malia ventured farther down the South Lawn to participate in the activities.

In an area called the “Kids Kitchen,” the first lady joined chef Anne Burrell and the “Today” show’s Al Roker to make broccoli rabe pesto with spicy Italian sausage. The dish, Burrell said, was the perfect picture of a balanced diet that included nuts, vegetables, dairy, and extra virgin olive oil.

Burrell and Roker pointed out that the food looked colorful and delicious. They told the first lady how they blanched the broccoli and had chopped up the pistachios with other ingredients in the food processor to make the sauce. The first lady sampled a bite of the finished product, doing what the White House pool report called the “flavor dance” of approval.

“Mmmm, it’s good,” she said, as she shimmied in place.

Burrell went on to explain that the sauce was added into the pan with the pasta. Obama asked why she didn't just put the sauce on top, the chef said the pasta and sauce “get together and make a little hug” to create a good flavor if mixed in the pan.

“I love a little love in my food,” the first lady said, singing “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.”

She also said she liked the hint of the spicy sausage and the crunchy pistachios in the dish. Together, the three danced and waved their hands singing in unison and encouraged the audience to join in and sing.

After the performance, the first lady emphasized the nutrition packed into the meal.
“The thing about this, kids, is it doesn’t taste like broccoli,” she said, asking the crowd if they’d eat the dish in their own homes.

“Yes!,” the crowd replied eagerly.

She also told parents the dish would not only satisfy a child’s pallet, but make a great date-night dish too.

To her agenda of healthy food, exercise and military families, the first lady is adding violence against youth, but will not directly discuss gun control, The Washington Post reported today.

Kelly Brownell, director of the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, told the Post that the first lady has “brought unprecedented interest to the childhood obesity issue,” and that he hopes that there will be “significant advances in policy in the second term.”

• Washington Post: Michelle Obama Signals She May Tackle Tough Issues in Second Term as First Lady

Details of the ‘healthy and active’ Easter Egg Roll

With the “Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!” theme, all of the activities on the South Lawn today are promoting healthy and active living. The activities include obstacle courses, yoga, dancing, playing sports with professional athletes, and the traditional egg roll.

The event, including the music acts and Storytime Stage readers, is being streamed live online. (See link below) The event is scheduled to end at 6:45 p.m.

More than 30,000 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia received tickets to the event. For the fifth year in a row, tickets were distributed through an online lottery, with more than 300,000 tickets were requested.

This year’s special guest was Robby Novak, better known as Kid President. Jessica Sanchez sang the national anthem.

Jordin Sparks, Austin Mahone, Coco Jones, Sesame Street characters, and The Wanted were scheduled to perform. The official master of ceremonies is Tommy McFly, and the U.S. Marine Corps Band performed American classics.

Readers on the Storytime Stage were NASCAR race car driver Danica Patrick, Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson, Elmo, Abby, Gordon and Rosita from Sesame Street, the full cast of Super Sprowtz, The Wanted, and Academy Award-nominated child actress Quvenzhané Wallis.

In the Eggtivity Zone, Dr. Jayne Greenberg, Cornell McClellan, Donna Richardson Joyner, Curtis Pride and Shellie represented the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition as players and coaches from professional sports teams teach kids how to play sports and show kids easy, fun ways to stay active and fit.

Athletes participating in the Eggtivity Zone:

• Katrina Adams (US Tennis Association)
• Lorenzo Alexander (Arizona Cardinals)
• Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
• Anquan Boldin (Baltimore Ravens)
• Lauren Crandall (US Field Hockey)
• Jill Craybas (US Tennis Association)
• Victor Cruz (New York Giants)
• Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
• Rachel Dawson (US Field Hockey)
• Ajai Dhadwal (US Field Hockey)
• Derrick Dockery (Dallas Cowboys)
• Ray Gaddis (Philadelphia Union)
• John Hackworth (Philadelphia Union)
• Nene Hilario (Washington Wizards)
• William Holt (US Field Hockey)
• Liezel Huber (US Tennis Association)
• Doc Jacobs (VETSports)
• Denis Kudla (US Tennis Association)
• Kari Miller (US Sitting Volleyball)
• Brett Keisel (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• Jennifer Kessy (US Volleyball)
• Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx)
• Lewis Neal (DC United)
• Emeka Okafor (Washington Wizards)
• John Orozco (US Gymnastics)
• Danica Patrick (NASCAR)
• Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings)
• Clark Rachfal (US Para Cycling)
• Antwaan Randle-El (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• April Ross (US Volleyball)
• Marcelo Saragosa (DC United)
• Etan Thomas (Atlanta Hawks)
• Brian Vahaly (US Tennis Association)
• Robert Vartughian (Philadelphia Union)
• John Wall (Washington Wizards)
• Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx)
• Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx)
• Shaenon Williams (Philadelphia Union)

• White House Easter Egg Roll
• 2013 White House Easter Eggs